Michael Steinhardt Tells The Truth, The Whole Truth, And Especially The Truth About The Greatest "Con Job": Warren Buffett

Just after dawn, hedge fund manager Michael Steinhardt appeared on CNBC as the token contrarian in the Titans of Groupthink series. After some pleasantries we hit the 6 minutes mark where the formerly trite narrative experienced a flash crash. In the most candid discussion of the truth in America, Steinhardt said that “we live in an inland sea of calm waters while surrounding us are turbulent, horrible places,” to which everyone nodded soberly in agreement, unaware of what was coming next. “America seems almost as insular as it has in times past,” He continued. “America is not the wonderful place it used to be... Look at the rest of the world compared to America, look what’s happening all over and then here the biggest thing we have to worry about is how long it will take Buffett to come down to earth…how long until people like you begin to realize his reality and get off some…cloud.”

Yet the smackdown of the Becky Quick/Joe Kernen Buffett-sycophant brigade was the prime attraction by far.

"Here in America's the biggest thing we have to worry about is how long it will take for Buffett to come down to earth where he should have been a long time ago, so people like you begin to realize his reality and get off some cloud."

"What is Buffett’s reality,”

“His reality is that he is the greatest PR person of recent times. And he has managed to achieve a snow job that has conned virtually everyone in the press to my knowledge…and is remarkable that he continues to do it.”

“Really,” Quintanila responded with a shake: “so outperforming the S&P, I don’t know how many hundred times, over the course of his portfolio…doesn’t matter?”

“Ooo, I’m not sure he’s done that. What he has done, and this is a great measure of the man’s wonder, is that he gave away two and a half cents for the first 70 years of his life- he gave away nothing- and then in one fell swoop gave almost all of his money thoughtlessly, to one guy. And from that moment on became the greatest advocate of philanthropy and pitched all the bumbling billionaires to do the same thing. That takes a special guy having given away nothing and then in one fell swoop ‘boom!’ he gives it all away and pitches the other yo-yos to give it away too. Now what does that say? I think that’s worth reflecting.”

And why a special place is reserved in the 9th circle of hell for the Chairsatan, right next to his true master: "He has just screwed all those nice old people who saved all their lives to retire and he is paying half of one percent so he could recapitalize the banks... The Journal does not talk about this because those people don't matter...If you listen to Bernanke inflation is low even though you can't help noticing what is really going on. Inflation is so skewed where inflation is commodities is flying and wages inflation is zero so for the average guy in America it is terrible. Not bad but terrible."

There are many CNBC producers packing their cubicles after this truthy disaster of unbelievable proportions.

I think the most insightful part of the interview is when he said that Buffett gave away almost all his money in one swoop -- thoughtlessly -- to one guy. What he is referring to is that Buffett gave billions to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is a total front for the modern day eugenics movement. Steinhardt gets props for that !!!

There is no comparison to the stalwart little guys who give away little and often, which happens to constitute a significant part of their wealth, as and when they get it, not spend a lifetime hoarding it before giving it away just before you die to great publicity.

The official CPI cannot possibly be correct. Assuming that we have parity between euros and dollars and that oil is priced at $10 per barrel, then an increase in the dollar price of oil would have a similar commensurate increase in euros. Now, if the exchange rate for dollars drops by 50% against the euro, which it has since 2001 then that would no longer be the case.

Either the oil price would remain at $10 dollars which would now equate to only 5 euros per barrel or the price would remain stable at 10 euros which would now equate to 20 dollars per barrel. If it stays at $10 then the price falls to 5 Euros, a spine shattering deflation rate of some 50% in the euro-zone. If it stays at 10 Euros the price of oil would rise to $20, a 100% inflation rate in dollars over the period.

You can have one or the other extreme, but anything less than the extreme MUST manifest itself as deflation in euros to some degree, which we categorically do not have.

Any movement in the exchange rate will affect ALL costs in that currency so we aren’t just looking at oil, yet miraculously the inflation rates in both Europe and the US remain similar despite this massive divergence of currencies which is simply not mathematically possible.

I had an allergic reaction to Buffett's consolidation of his assets with Gates since it happened. If you view capital like some natural resource, the idea that he could strip mine the US and then do this, although his prerogative, is troubling to me.

I thought Steinhardt beat Buffett like a baby harp seal. Watched it three times.

Envy is a sin. If you are willing to expand your mind, I'd offer: It has, and always will be the disembodied force of taxation vs. the "Its there to taxed" model of that mouse face sanguine CNBC spokesmodel for the '57 chevy.

Chevy made some good vehicles. Women are pretty. DO NOT EVER cross the IRS unless you have a former (and pensioned) IRS agent looking to play grab ass in this mortal world.

Remember Buffett is all for the estate tax-which he avoided by gifting his money--but since he has a life insurance company it is good business to have a steep estate tax. But he is like others-caught up in the conflicts of inteest.

Actually, I'm not exactly clear on what the dirt even was. Steinhardt said something about him leaving all his money to Bill Gates -- and that that was "food for thought". What did he mean by that exactly?

Is there some hidden agenda, ulterior motive, tax haven, etc. that Buffet is actually working towards by giving away his wealth? There seems to be a whole lot of head nodding, and nudging going on around here -- and from where I'm standing I still haven't seen any facts.

Yes, Buffet is an oligarch. He's as crooked as any other Billionaire tycoon -- and likely guilty of insider trading on 1000's of occasions. (Steinhardt is likely equally as crooked, for the record).

But Steinhardt seemed to be getting at something specific about this 'final giveway'. As if there was a darker motivation at work.

But his foundation only spends the interest on the 20 billion, so its more like an endownment, it will be around foreever.

Gates decides what the money is spent on, like vacines for the children of the world.

There is no proof that Gate's efforts are totally motivated by good will.

His vacines could be a form of population control.

So Gates convinces, Warren to give him his fortune, because he 1) avoids taxes, 2) it's a foundation that only spends the interest, so it will be around forever. 3) Population control is the best thing the elite could do for themselves. 4) Convince other Billionaries to give to the same fund or similar funds. 5) Carry out more Bill Gates Science Projects.

People have been theorizing "population control" efforts for how long now? Where has anything surfaced, other than through (the other door, the one where all the hard core Christians don't want to look) militarism?

No, I am not in favor of any such thing. I'm also not in favor of BS used to drown out folks on some other side of a religion (such are the currents of history).

But... all you lovers of capitalism better realize that it's the koolaid that you love, the one that allows power to be concentrated in ANYONE'S hands. If you don't like the outcome then you're probably not going to like the alternative (full equality of income/power).

Don't sleep, don't turn your back, they're after you and you won't get away...

When I moved here to Thailand I was taken to a restaurant called Cabbages and Condoms.

http://www.cabbagesandcondoms.co.th/ There was a big picture of Bill Gates. The now deceased Thai owner pushed condoms for birth control. I'm not totally convinced of your view that the Gates Foundation is all about population control, but what I saw here sure backs it up.

I remember reading somewhere that educated women are likely to have fewer children.

Makes me laugh every time.

The US economy is one that has been draining resources from all over the world, to keep up an economic model based on the resources drain, later claiming that resources drain does not matter and every one, including the drained, could developp the same kind of economy.

So education is synonym to jobs. Women with jobs, as long as they can not have servants, have less time for family. It is a constraint.

Educated women with no job have the same amount of time as other women. Look up at communauties the education of small children is made by women. Women are educated but they have no jobs. High birth rate.

Remember that compy simulation, Life? In the end after the bloom and the subsidance, all that's left are small pools of subsisting life. That's where we're headed. Warren AND this guy'll be dead. Their spawn will have to come together with what's left of US to survive. Simple truth. Prepare.

Buffet's investing days are numbered, his entire philosophy was to buy stocks, let Greenspan devalue the dollar and take profits. That's why he doesn't sell. No mystique there I'm afraid, just a lot of investors who could have simply bought stock, held it and let Greenspan devalue the dollar.

and keep their fees...

He couldn't do it again, and he cannot now get out. Stand by to crater...

Now that is hilarious. Far too little discussion in the MSM of exactly who is in line to be helped by official US policy of destroying the dollar and recapitalizing the banks and who is hurt. Uncle Warren knows where his bread is buttered and is not above taking free money if someone is going to give it to him with no ethical qualms about it.

Also not surprising CNBS may have taken the unflattering video off-line.

Each morning as I ready for the office I subject myself to an hour of CNBC torture to get an idea what the other fools (I include myself) are being feed first thing in the AM. This morning I was finally rewarded and ironically I almost missed it.

I listened to Steinhardt for the first 2 or 3 minute and then almost shut it off to leave. But something told me to stay and watch and in doing so I was rewarded with a live performance of CNBC Cognitive Dissonance the likes of which I have never seen before. The looks on their faces was worth several years of morning CNBC abuse.

I listen just about every morning as its helpful to see and hear others opinions, no matter how orchestrated it is sometimes. When I heard Mr. Steinhardt drop the Buffet bombs on air, i was like a deer in the headlights. It was wonderful to hear the half ass attempts from the crew at a rebuttal. Simply a great start to the day. Once again, he will not be invited to do the morning show.

You are a bigger man than me...I have found I just can't watch CNBC anymore. I am glad that someone can stomach it enough to occasionally post garnish like this. I wasn't really familiar with Michael Steinhardt before today and based on this interview, I'll likely never see him on CNBC or Bloomberg or other POS SPIN NETS, again.

Still, a refreshing view and nice to hear somebody say that bullshit actually has an odor to it. I like his phrase, "you have to reflect on it." I don't think any of the 3 talking heads know the word, reflect. Spin, yes, the market always goes up, yes.....challenge the status quo? Not so much.

Positions: AIG which really represented GS at the timeMCO (Moodys) MTB(M&T Bank) AXP USB (USBancorp) The largest private insurance portfolio in the world.

The whinings pleas: The crying plea for govt bailouts and then when the market got whoopassed: the famous plea for Americans to Buy, Buy, Buy ---3 months early

The courious politics: Having an a-political history and nature, Buffett surprises the world with a much trumpeted endorsement of Obama. Where did this come from?(Did I mention his GE position? The Washington Post and Gannett positions?)

The 45 billion cash position as/of late 2008: You could make a case that he created the blowout in order to buy cheap.

Warren buffet is a thief in my view and If he don't like it I'll give him my address and see if he's man enough to come over.

a billionaire maybe but at least Sheinhardt notices what impoverished parts of America like Detroit and Chicago have become and that the place isn't what it used to be (unlike the usual sugary talk-up artists like Immelt and Blankfein) ..notice the word "superficial" to describe the "recovery"

meantime Buffet (billionaire) gives his billions to Bill Gates (billionaire) Foundation ...members of Club Parasite giving 'charity' to each other, it doesn't get more incestuous than that!

I went downtown to a hockey game, greektown restaurant and casino. It was fine.

In the burbs, blonds still drive lexuses talking on the cell phone about the same stoopid shit.

It is quieter, but not down and out, laying on the pavement. The auto retirees still keep a lot of this economy going. But you can tell the lower mid class younger folk is becoming stressed. They know their future is at best, weak.

May I invest in your teleport machine, since you apparently travelled from Birmingham to downtown Detroit without passing through the residential and industrial (?) areas in between 8 Mile Rd. and downtown , where 2,000,000 people used to live, and where now only about 600,000 live, and every third house has been abandoned or demolished.

Take a trip into Macomb County, where the union guys used to live in places like Warren and Sterling Whites, and sees all of the vacant homes and the beginnings of neighborhood blight.

Absolutely nothing has even begun to replace the billions that the Big Three used to pump into the tri-county area every year. I used to caddy for the rich owners of auto parts companies. Those days are long gone and not coming back, both as to the rich owners and the regular guys who worked in the plants.

Yes, indeed, give thanks for all those pensioners. They have become the financial lifeblood of the community.

The best that can be said about the situation is that it is an early indicator of what awaits the rest of the nation.

Right. Buffet and Gates don't go to Detroit and Cleveland. They meet up at "The Vintage" in the California dessert and play bridge and go to the parties that cost $1million per event to get dressed up and hobnob with the same people over and over again. And all those other zillionaires drool and cream to shake their hands and have a seat nearby.

the United States’ most prestigious and ultra-exclusive private country club community. Highly regarded as the pinnacle among its peers, The Vintage Club has come to set the standard for which other country club communities aspire to achieve.

i watched him this morning, i thought wilford brumley was selling me insurance.....anyhow the guys message was so good, you didn't mind him falling asleep every 5 mins...he must have been driving them insane with his super slow motion delivery....i loved it

There's a world of difference between frenetically filling a void of time with verbosity, and a calm, calculated choosing of words which impart that sort of wisdom (while deftly skewering a few sacred cows along the way).

In all honesty I wouldn't really mind him all that much because lets face it...every billionaire is corrupt in someway, they didn't get to where they are honestly buying/selling shares of coca-cola (I don't give a shit way you say)

But it was really when I think Charlie Munger that told the tax payers to "suck it up" and that is a mentality I'm sure Buffet agreed with otherwise Munger would not have had the audacity to make such a comment after getting bailed out.

and what would you have done if it were you within the "insiders circle" of power and wealth? Our environment (and experiences) form our beliefs which we then realize as truths. Unless you walk in the man's shoes, you have no idea where the path will take you. So cut'em some slack....let's hold off on the AIDs for now. We may need that as a follow-up treatment.

Your second and third sentences, while true, do not allow these slime quarter. We all have the ability to mindfully assess our "own" situation relative to that of others, we also possess the ability to objectively view how our words and deeds affect others. Neither of these pieces of shit have done so.

You know its funny but I used to work for the son of a billionaire, who was of course himself a centimillionaire. I became his sort of adjutant. Late one night when we had been working hard and were in his office shooting the shit he said to me "You know behind every great fortune there is a great crime". I later asked him about that and he denied he ever said anything like that.

WOW! Watch out zerohedge, your truth is going mainstream. He is so right about the superficiality of the market. 20 years ago the companies rated AAA in the dow thirty was in double digits . It is now 1 OR 3.

Becky must have been devastated. All the foreign trips where she pretends to be Warren's girlfriend, lettin him inappropriately (accidently) rub against her, etc. *** sniff *** "I thought he was such a nice guy, like my grandfather,,," *** sniff ***

wow that was quick. Video not available. I guess Becky needs to get out the kneepads after that interview to keep ole Warren happy. Remember the stories in 2008 when Immelt came down on anyone telling the truth about Obama and Buffet? Remember when Santelli and Gasparino were taken to the woodshed?

CNBC has long since lost any semblence of an impartial medium. Any organization that allows Cramer, Liesman, and others that led millions of lemmings over the cliffs have a special place in hell.

Get the pitchforks, tar and feathers out guys cause we're all a gonna clean out DC!!!! May the chips fall where they may. Anybody in congress for more than 8 years - out. FED - out, lobbyists - tar and feather... there is hope my friends.

Will have to do some googling later... "The fact is that Warren Buffett’s bizarre transfer of his fortune to the Gates Foundation might have been responsible in part for the mortgage default situation that rocked the financial stability of the United States of America. Warren Buffett’s fortune being transferred to the Gates Foundation might have been a very poorly planned strategy and the reasoning behind seems aimed at hurting the United States itself."

This guy painted such a sombre and serious tone, that they could but sit there in silence. It was awesome. Then in closing, he reminded them all of the world beyond thunderdome.. the rust belt.. the bad America, the promising America of past times.

Here's a link to the video, very interesting if you haven't seen it. I especially liked it when he was telling them life in America isn't what it use to be, they should take a trip to Detroit or Cleveland if they wanted to see how bad it really is. There was little to no comment from the CNBC crowd.

The fucking Gates foundation should be forced to use its money to clean up the millions of infected Windows machines all over the world which are used by crooks and secret service agencies world wide to screw us over. For those that have never really thought about it: don't you think a country like the US could have finished off the Mafia a loooong time ago if they really wanted to? Meditate on this... The powers that be are playing all sides and we think we have some sort of control. Ha haaa. Organized crime, the big 2 parties, banking, oil and defense. They have it all cornered.